U.S. Drought Monitor Update for April 22, 2014

According to the April 22, 2014 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers 38.4% of the contiguous United States, an increase decrease from last week’s 37.9%. The worst drought categories (extreme to exceptional drought) also increased from 10.1% last week to 11.5%. Weather systems moving in the upper-level westerly flow generated precipitation along two storm tracks: one across the northern tier states and the other from southern New Mexico, across the Gulf of Mexico coast, and up the East Coast. Below-normal precipitation dominated the rest of the country, with much of the Southwest again receiving virtually no precipitation. Additionally, for the first time in 15 years, 100% of California is in moderate to exceptional drought.